Firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir on Wednesday questioned the legitimacy of the Indonesian government during a heated exchange with a prosecution witness at his terrorism trial.
Bashir, who is accused of funding a paramilitary training camp in Aceh, argued that while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was a Muslim, he did not run the country according to Islamic law.
“According to the words of Allah, such a leader is classified as an infidel,” he told the South Jakarta District Court.
He was speaking in response to testimony from Mukhtar Ali, a senior official with the Religious Affairs Ministry who was called to testify about jihad and paramilitary training.
Mukhtar had said the paramilitary camp in Aceh was illegitimate because the country already had a security apparatus in place.
“We, as Muslims, are ordered to have skills and be prepared all the time,” he said.
“But as citizens we must put everything in its proper place. Why should we have paramilitary training if the country already has the military?”
He also said there was nothing in the Koran that advocated taking up arms to wage a jihad, or holy war.
“Some clerics have interpreted jihad as ‘moving toward the true religion,’ ” he said.
“There are several implementations of jihad — fighting against the bad deeds in ourselves, fighting against infidels and fighting against Satan,” he continued. “Before waging jihad on the outside, we should perform jihad within ourselves.”
The use of weapons in jihad is acceptable only under certain conditions, Mukhtar told the court, such as when an Islamic or Muslim-majority country comes under attack or when there is an order to do so from the legitimate government.
“Islam orders its followers to obey Allah, his prophets and the Ulil Amir [legitimate leader],” Mukhtar said.
“The fight against the infidels becomes obligatory only when they wage war against Muslims or hurt Muslims or expel Muslims from their countries.”
He said that while spreading Islamic teachings was the obligation of all Muslims, calling for the establishment of an Islamic state was a completely different matter.
“We must not topple the legitimate government,” he said.
“We must not use bad to fight against bad.”
He also said that while Indonesia was a secular country, principles from the Koran were adopted in several of its laws, including one on Shariah banking.
However, when cross-examined by defense lawyer Mahendradatta, Mukhtar acknowledged that his job at the Religious Affairs Ministry consisted of verifying halal certification for consumer goods.
He said he had not been informed that the case he had been called to testify in had nothing to do with halal certification.
Bashir’s trial was adjourned until Monday, when two criminal law experts are scheduled to testify for the prosecution. Lead prosecutor Muhammad Taufik said they would be the last witnesses called by the state.
“We’ll have presented 42 witnesses and we believe their testimonies are sufficient to prove the crime,” he said after the hearing.
At the beginning of the trial, prosecutors said they had 130 witnesses they wanted to call to the stand.
“We’re just trying to keep the trial modest and low-cost,” Taufik said.
“After the final two experts testify, it will be the defense’s turn to present its witnesses.”
Bashir is charged with three counts of funding terrorist activities at the Aceh training camp, as well as two counts of illegal firearm possession, one charge of mobilizing and inciting people to commit acts of terrorism and one charge of using violence with intent to inflict human casualties.
He could face the death penalty if convicted.
(x the JG)
wo 6 apr 2011 - 17:28